Lost in the Reads

via Pixabay   “A good reference source is one that serves to answer questions, and a bad reference source is one that fails to answer questions.” – Riedling The physical Reference section of our library is outdated, hidden, and untouched by both librarian and patrons for the last few years.   Part of the reason for this neglect is our district collection of online databases . These online databases are useful, relevant, and should be gaining the main attention from teachers and students. However, online databases are not the only reference resources that should be available to our school community. Complementing these valuable resources with a useful print section of dictionaries, atlases, curriculum specific encyclopedias, and curriculum specific texts will increase student use of all references resources and better serve our patrons. Below are the steps necessary to overhaul this dusty, overlooked section of the library to enhance student learning in conjunct...

via unsplash I remember being in elementary school and getting assigned a topic for a research project. The whole class would go to the library to research said topic. Then the one or maybe two sets of encyclopedias would be set out on the tables with the instructions that they were not to be taken off the table, and you only had a certain amount of time to use the copy you needed because everyone needed a chance to use it. As someone who has since fallen down many a Wikipedia rabbit hole, this was a torturous way to be given an Encyclopedia, I wanted to look up EVERYTHING. via giphy This memory really resonated while reading lesson 6 and encountering the notion that, “ ‘Managing’ a school library resource centre or a reference collection does not mean building systems that protect it or limit access to it. In fact, it can mean the exact opposite.” I whole heartedly agree. Thankfully, my students have access to a lot of our reference resources online, and they can br...

Part 1: Evaluation of Reference Currently in Use: Title:   Nature’s Children (Series, 81 titles) Type: Print Books Date of Publication: 1986 -2001 Publisher: Grolier Educational, Connecticut Physical Dimensions:   8.5 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches Unacceptable Acceptable Exceeding Currency 10 years old or older Maximum of 5 years old 0-2 years old, or continually updated to remain current Purpose Provides minimal amount and/or contradicting information with little to no pictures and no supports. Provides an adequate amount of information with supports like glossary or index in place. Has large, colourful pictures. Provides ample amount of relevant information on subject. Has supports such as; glossary, index, table of contents. Has large, colourful pictures. Relevancy / Audience Does not meet reading level appropriate for either primary or intermediate. Information is unorg...

via giphy "Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.”                                                                                             --   Neil Gaiman I have always loved the idea behind this quote by library advocate and generally incredibly famous author Neil Gaiman (maybe you’ve heard of him? *). As much as I love the idea of being that amazing know everything, quipping factual answers like I’m the actual Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , librarian -I’m never going to be that good. In fact, that quote strikes a bolt of fear right through my little imposter-syndrome heart. As a fairly new teacher-librarian, I am pretty sure I can find an answer on google, but I’m also pretty ...